Traffic lights at Seaga Highway entrance vandalised, out of service

The traffic lights near the Edward Seaga Highway entrance, along the Mandela Highway in the Corporate Area, are currently out of service due to vandalism, according to the National Works Agency (NWA).

It is the second time in less than five months that traffic signals along the major thoroughfare have been rendered inoperable by vandals.

According to manager of communication and customer services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, the traffic signals were discovered to be out of operation on Wednesday.

In a news release, he said an assessment of the infrastructure at the location revealed that signal cables, which operate the lights, had been burnt.

Shaw explained that the fire also destroyed the pull box which housed the cables, the traffic signal cabinet and parts of the mast arms on which the lights are situated.

The estimated cost of repairs is $1.25 million, he said, noting however that a timeline for the repairs has not yet been determined.

The NWA is reminding motorists that the affected traffic signals also accommodate pedestrian lights therefore they should be on the lookout for and yield to persons attempting to cross the roadway.

Towards the end of summer last year, according to the NWA, it had to respond to a number of traffic signals being put out of service at various locations in the Corporate Area due to the malicious actions of vandals or persons of unsound mind.

"Repairs, in some instances, had to be effected multiple times, at some locations, due to repeat interference with signal equipment," said the NWA, adding that the cost of emergency repairs to the affected traffic signals had then ran into several millions of dollars.

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